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FIFA\u2019s World Cup ticket limits explained<\/p>\n
USAT’s Safid Deen breaks down how many World Cup tickets can be purchased at face value for soccer fans.<\/p>\n
Sports Pulse<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Inter Miami<\/a> didn\u2019t just punch their ticket into the MLS Cup Playoffs in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 24.<\/p>\n They made an emphatic statement about how far they could go in the postseason while reminding fans how much longer this squad filled with former FC Barcelona teammates may have together in Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n Messi scored two goals in the second half (74\u2019 and 86\u2019) and assisted Baltasar Rodr\u00edguez before halftime (43\u2019), while Luis Suarez scored a penalty goal as Inter Miami beat New York City FC<\/a>\u00a04-0 at Citi Field.<\/p>\n Inter Miami moved into third place with 55 points, behind Philadelphia (60 points) and FC Cincinnati in\u00a0the MLS Eastern Conference<\/a>\u00a0standings, following the victory, while clinching a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy with the victory, and with how we played. It was a good night for us, and above all, it shows us the way forward,\u201d Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the victory.<\/p>\n Inter Miami has five regular-season matches remaining, and could still vie for the MLS Supporters\u2019 Shield for the second straight season. They\u2019re five points behind Philadelphia for the league lead in points.<\/p>\n Still, the expectation will be for Messi\u2019s side to contend for their first MLS Cup title. In the meantime, the old Inter Miami stars are ensuring they have some fun along the way.<\/p>\n Messi put on a masterclass Wednesday, scoring twice with an assist in his second straight match. He became the fourth player in MLS history to record eight multi-goal games in a season, scoring at least twice in eight of his last 12 matches.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, he tries to show everyone the team spirit,\u201d Mascherano said of Messi, whose scores brought fans in Citi Field to their feet.<\/p>\n Messi retook the lead in the MLS Golden Boot race with 24 goals, breaking a tie with LAFC star Denis Bouanga. Messi leads MLS with 37 goal contributions as he became the first player in league history to record at least 35 of them in consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n Sergio Busquets delivered the hockey assist to Messi on the first goal of the match by Rodriguez (43\u2019), then delivered the through ball to Messi to double the lead. Busquets could reportedly retire at the end of the 2025 MLS season.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, Busi is playing. I don\u2019t know how long he will play, but for me, he was one of the best midfielders in history. I went to Barcelona to learn from him,\u201d Mascherano said of Busquets.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s normal for me when I watch him giving these kinds of passes because during his long career, he did it too many times. Hopefully, he\u2019s going to help us the rest of the season. Hopefully, he\u2019s going help us in the playoffs. For us, he\u2019s a key player.\u201d<\/p>\n Suarez looked refreshed in his return from a three-match MLS suspension after his Leagues Cup spitting incident, as Messi allowed him to take the penalty kick.<\/p>\n Messi\u2019s World Cup champion teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, drew the penalty scored by Suarez.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that strikers always need goals, and even though he scored from the penalty spot, it’s important for him,\u201d Mascherano said of Suarez.<\/p>\n It was the first Inter Miami clean sheet for goalkeeper Oscar Ustari since a scoreless draw in the Club World Cup opener against Egyptian side Al Ahly on June 14.<\/p>\n Inter Miami will travel to Canada after the match, and play against Toronto on Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Messi delivered a through ball to Baltazar Rodriguez, who scored in the 43rd minute as Inter Miami takes 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n Messi\u2019s free kick tailed away while Matt Freese was still able to get a palm on it in the 38th minute. Messi\u2019s kick was strong and on target before trailing off.<\/p>\n NYC 0, Inter Miami 0: Messi fires early shot<\/p>\n Lionel Messi lined up his shot from distance, but it was deflected in the 12th minute.<\/p>\n Messi has traveled to New York and is expected to play, coach Javier Mascherano said before Tuesday\u2019s training session. Messi\u2019s playing status for the NYCFC match will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before kickoff on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The match will be available on\u00a0MLS Season Pass via Apple TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n Watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV<\/a><\/p>\n The match will be on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).<\/p>\n The match will be played at Citi Field in Queens, NY \u2013 home of the New York Mets.<\/p>\n Inter Miami will clinch a spot into the MLS Cup playoffs with a win or draw<\/a> against New York City FC.<\/p>\n Inter Miami will play two matches on the road this week, with six matches to play until the end of the 2025 regular season<\/a>.<\/p>\n Inter Miami is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings<\/a> with 52 points from 28 matches this season, but has three matches in hand to play after participating in the Club World Cup<\/a> and Leagues Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Luis Suarez returns from a three-game MLS suspension<\/a> after spitting on a Seattle staff member after the Leagues Cup loss.<\/p>\n NYCFC is fourth in the East with 53 points, and has already clinched a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n Here are the betting odds for today\u2019s match, according to BetMGM<\/a>:<\/p>\n Messi is also nearing a contract extension with Inter Miami to keep him in MLS and the United States for at least two more seasons,\u00a0USA TODAY Sports reported<\/a>\u00a0on Sept. 18.<\/p>\n\n